Cars strikes, kills St. Paul man left at roadside

BROOK PARK, Minn. - Authorities say a pedestrian who was hit by a car and fatally injured in Pine County on Sunday evening had been drinking and fought with a relative — who abandoned him along a road — before he was hit.

Ryan A. Lockhart, 23, of St. Paul, was hit on Minnesota Highway 23 near Wildwood Road in Brook Park. He died at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Lockhart was hit by a westbound Toyota Prius about 8:20 p.m. The roads were icy. The 71-year-old driver remained at the scene and was not charged with any crime, according to the Pine County Sheriff’s Office.

A preliminary investigation by the sheriff’s office indicated that Lockhart and a male relative had been drinking at a local tavern and left together. While driving home, the two men argued, stopped the pickup, got out of the truck and scuffled.

The relative drove away, leaving Lockhart along the road. Footprints indicate he walked down a county road and onto Highway 23, where he was struck by the car.